Extension-ladder with rescue-car.



B. P. CARPENTER. v EXTENSION LADDER WITH'BESGUE OAR. APPLICATION FILE]- JULY 21 1913 Patented Mg. n, 191% 8 EHEETfi-SHEET 1.

.Wi i meo B. F. CARPENTER.

EXTENSION LADDER WITH RESCUE OAR. APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, 1013.

1,1 065698.. Patented Aug. 11, 1914,

ll l l I Hi B. F. CARPENTER.

EXTENSION LADDER WITH RESCUE GAB. APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, 1913.

Pawnted Aug. 111, 1914 B. F. CARPENTER. EXTENSION LADDER WITH RESGUE GAR.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 21, 1913.

Patented Aug. 11,1914.

8 BHEETE-SHBET 4.

B. F. CARPENTER. EXTENSION LADDER WITH RESCUE CAB. urmouxon FILED JULY 21, 1913.

Patented Aug. 11, 19M.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

QZN w .N am? HUQ B; P. CARPENTER. EXTENSION LADDER WITH RESCUE GAR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, 1913.- 1,1 6,69,

Patented Aug. H, 1914 8 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

W4 WAA/fbi B. P. CARPENTER. EXTENSION LADDER WITH RESCUE GAB. uruuum'n mum JULY 21, 1913.

1,106,698. Patented Aug. 11, mm

8 SHEETS-SHEET '7.

B. F. CARPENTER.

EXTENSION LADDER WITH RESCUE OAR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, 1913.

Patented Aug. 11, 19M,

8 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

II I l g l' I'l BENJAMIN IE. CARPENTER, OF SUMMIT, NEW JERSEY.

' EXTENSION-LADDER WITH RESCUE-CAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented nag. ii, rain,

. Application filed July 21, 1913. Serial N 0. 780,119.

To all whom it may concern:

3e it known that I, BENJAMIN F. OAR- rnn'rnu, a citizen of the United States, re-

siding at 22 Elm street, Summit, county of Union, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Extension-Ladders with Rescue-Cars, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to an extensionladder with a rescue-car movable upon the same, the ladder being pivoted upon a turntable mounted upon a truck for transporting the ladder to any place. This structure requires other attachments to adapt the car for most eiiiciently rescuing persons and property from dangerousorelevated positions, for use in extinguishing fires, for repairing high structures, and bridging impassable chasms and streams, for trimming and spraying high trees, for making observations in an elevated position, and performing other difiicult work.

The object of the. invention is to operate a car upon such a ladder in the most efficient manner, and such efiicient operation requires a main-ladder with means for pointing it in any direction around the horizon-and elevating it to any pointfrom a horizontal to a vertical position, An extension-ladder is required for elevating the car to higher points than could be reached by a single ladder conveniently movable through the streets, and ropes and drums are required for projecting and retracting the extensionladder and operating the rescue-car. Means is required for operating'the turntable by hand, to turn the ladders promptl'r into any position, and gearing is require operable by hand to elevate and lower the ladders with the car thereon, so as to avoid the use of ropes and drums for such purpose. An

adjustable counterweight is required to maintain the balance of the main and extension-ladders and the car thereon in any adjustment; as the movement of such car could not otherwise be controlled by handgearing. The adjustment of the counterweight cannot be .efi'ected without automatic means to indicate whether it requires to be moved toward or from the fulcrum of the ladder, and an index-finger giving such indication therefore enables the ladders to be balanced most efliciently. The counterweight must be attached tothe lower end,

of the ladder by reversely bent arms or e rames adapted to extend over and under the turntable at its opposite sides; so that the ladder may be balanced in all positions from the vertical to a horizontal, or even below a horizontal position. The ladders and car may also operate more efliciently if an underslung platform be provided to. extend from any part of thebuilding to rescue persons therefrom, and the ladder requires removable rungs at such point to permit the passage of persons from the underslung platform through the ladder to the car.

The car may operate to rescue persons beyond the reach of the extension-ladder, by means of an emergency ladder having its rails fitted to sockets in the car and projected upward therefrom, and such emergency ladder is enabled to be projected upward in contact with the wall of a building by providing the upper end of the same wit-h a spring-guide-frame and a cushioned wheel at the forward end of the same to rest upon the building. The omission of any of these elements obviously deprives the structure of more or less of its efficiency.

A ladder is commonly made extensible by fitting the side-rails or frame of the extension-ladder inside the side-rails of the main ladder, that is, between the side-rails of the main ladden' In the construction shown herein, the inner sides of the rails of both ladders are grooved, and the bottom of the car fits loosely between the rails and is furnished with'latches to engage the grooves, to retain the car upon the ladder when moved thereon. The car is provided with wheels or, rolls at opposite sides having treadbroad enough to rest upon the upper surface of the ladder-raiIs of the main and extension-ladders, and the car is provided with guide-ribs which are adapted to fit inside, the rails of the main ladder and outside the rails of the extension-ladder. The latches are movable laterally upon the'bot 'tom of the car and pressed outwardly into i the grooves of the ladder by suitable springs.

The grooves in the rails of the extensionladder are curved downwardly and outwardly at the foot of such ladder so as to coincide with the grooves in the rails of the main-ladder, so that when the latches upon the bottom of the car move from'the grooves in the main ladder to the grooves in the extension-ladder,- they may beguided automatically from one to the' other, being preferred.

An emergency or auxiliary ladder may be I of the car-railing.

pressed inwardly in opposition to the springs during such movement. \Vhen the car is descending upon the ladder the rolls are held from revolving by ratchets having detachable pawls and the rolls or wheels then act as shoes to slide upon the rails. The supv ports of the guide-ribs upon the car also constitute bearing plates adapted to support the car in case a wheel be broken. The latches may be wholly retracted from the grooves to remove the car from the ladder when desired.

The car is operated by a rope extending over a pulley fixed upon the upper end of the extension-ladder downwardly along the under side of the ladders, and over a pulley or pulleys arranged and supported on the turntable, to hoisting drums located at any:

convenient point upon the truck. Such. drums may be operated by hand or power, as

" bridge-support for the guide-wheel in its movement over open windows or' other breaks in the continuity of the wall.

The emergency ladder is provlded with lugs or brackets to rest upon the rungs of any ladder, and also has means for hooking it upon a window-sill so that it can be left there for a time while a load of rescued persons is being carried to the ground in the rescue-car.

To facilitate the swinging of the main ladder from a horizontal to a perpendicular position and to furnish a counterbalance opposed to the weight of the main and extension-ladders in any position of such ladders, I connect the main ladder withthe counterbalance by a metallic frame of S- shape which extends over and under the turntable at its opposite sides as hereinafter described. The counterbalance-weight is attached to such frame by telescoping frames which are movable to and from the fulcrum of the main ladder and serve to vary the position of the weight, as may be acquired to balance the load upon the laders.

When the extension-ladder is projected laterally from the main ladder the length, may be suflicient in many cases to use as a horizontal or inclined bridge over a. stream,

a depression in the ground, or a gap in a building, and as the strain upon the ladders is much increased by loading them in a horizontal position, I prefer to support such bridge by an additional ladder selected to operate as a post or leg beneath the middle portion'of the bridge, one of the bridge-ladders being furnished with an eye, and such supporting ladder furnished with a hook to engage the same and hold it in position while resting upon thc'ground beneath the brid e."

T e extension-ladder is furnished with the re uired strength by making it with double rai s at each side; the outer rails lying outside" the rails of the main ladder so that they may be trussed with top and bottom chords. Such outer'rail may also supply a constant'supp'ort for the footlof the extension-ladder, by providing such outer rail with a rigid hook or under-shoe to move beneath the rail of the main ladder, the inner rails of the extension ladder also carrying at the lower ends lugs'or shoes to slide in the grooves of the main ladder rails and thus furnish additional support to brace the extension-ladder when projected. I

All he ends of the ladders. are referably constructed with steel casings or shoes to properly support and strengthen them and reslst the strains to which they are subjected. Suclr steel ends when the extensionladder is fully projected, are combined with means for'locking the rails together so as to join them with suflicient strength for all the normal uses of the apparatus Detents are 7 also providedlupon each of the rails of the main ladder at their upper ends to engage pockets in the. rails of the extension-ladder, so that when it is brought to rest they relieve the strain upon the hoisting-rope and make the support trebly safe.

A detachable platform termed an undersling herein, is constructed to sling beneath any part of the main or extension-ladders when inclined against the front of a building 1 and supplies a means of access between the building and a rescue-car at intermediate storiesbelow the ladders end, and is so supported as to allow the car to pass. Certain of the run s in the ladder are made removable, to faci itate the egress of the persons from the platform through the ladder to the outer side of the same or to the car. Such undersling platform is so constructed that it may be readily applied to and removed from any of therungs upon the ladder, and furnishes an adjustable scaffold for any required purposeand where the apparatus is used chleiiy in fighting fire, the extension-ladder may be constructed at suitable intervals with the detachable rungs described herein, which permit access to the ladder at various p0ints.f

The invention will be understood by reference' to the annexed drawing, Figure 1 being a diagram showing the relation of the main ladder, extension-ladder, emergency ladder, and car to a building; Fig. 2 shows the up per end of the extension-ladder with the emergency ladder hooked upon a windowsill above it; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of such truck and apparatus arranged for transportation through the streets the counterbalance of the ladders being omitted for want of room upon the drawing; F ig. 4 is a planof the same; Fig. 5 is an elevation of the apparatus 'with the ladders erected in front of a building; Fig. 6 shows upon a larger scale than Fig. 5-the connection .of the ladders, and the ropes for operating the same and the car; Fig. 7 is a plan of the undersling platform upon a larger scale than appears in Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is aplan of the turntable and the lower end of the main ladder with its connections thereto; Fig. 9 is a side-view of the same parts with the turntable in section; Fig. 10 is an end view at the middle of the turntable, of the main ladder connections thereto, the view being drawn upon a larger scale than Fig. 9;

Fig. 10 is a plan of a portion of the rails of the extension-ladder where a detachable rung is connected thereto; F 1g. 10 18 a cross-section of the rails through the center of the detachable rung; and Fig. 10 is a horizontal section through the end of the detachable rung. Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the car and the inner side of the rails of the main and extensiondadders at'their junction; Fig. 12 is a plan of the same parts with the hand-rails upon the car emitted at one side thereof; Fig. 13 is a cross-section through the center of the bearing-roller at the right hand end of the car in Fig. 12,

with the rear or foot of the extension-ladder; Fig. 14 is an elevation of the rear end of the car omitting one bearing-roll; Fig. 15 is a plan of the main and extension-ladders at their junction, with the contiguous ends shows the rear side of the spring guide frame upon the upper end of the emer ency ladder; Fig. 17 is a section on line 1 17 in Fig. 16 with such carriagehooked upon the window-sill of a building;Fig. 18 is a plan of the telescoping slides for the counterweight upon the main ladder; Fig. 19 is aseetion online 19-19 in 20 is a cross-section on. line 20-20 in Fig. 18; Fig. 21 is an elevation, and Fig. 22a plan of the connection between rack. f and the counterbalance frame of the ladders.

The truck. shown in Figs. 3. and 4 consists of side-frames having level ends a, a connected byan arch formed with sloping sides 6, b. The sides and top of the arch are trussed by beams a suitably braced. The side-frames are connected by cross-bars a and diagonal braces, and the arches of table, and is bent. beyond'its edge, to the arm. By this constructionthe counterany position-of the ladder of the rails in section where hatched; Fig. 16

of forming any Fig. '18; and Fig.

the pusherthe frames are trussed by a central tie-bar or reach 6 which connects the ends of the truck across the middle of the arch, and is held. as near the gr und as is practicable by struts c projected downward from the tie-beams of nearest the base of the arch. \Vheels A and A are shown under the ends of the truck, and hand-wheels B and B are shown upon the truck-frame for-steering. Such a truck maybe propelled by any desired means, and if a gasolene motor or storage battery motor be provided the same power may he used for hoisting and operatlng the ladders and the rescue-car. The turntablee is mounted upon an annular seat f at the tops of the arches; and the main ladder C ]S pivoted to the turntable by a shaft c and pivotbearings e" at opposite sldeslof a. gap g, through which the pivotframe C of such ladder can swing down-- wardly. Such pivot-frame carries the counterbalance-weight C mounted upon the telescoplng frames C, C and 0, shown in Figs. 18 to 20 inclusive.

The letter C is applied in Fig. 8 to the side-railsof the main ladder, which are connected by rungs c and provided along their inner edges with the grooves 0', same frame C is of metal plates connected bya tie-bar, and each plate is of S-shape formed with reflex bends, having a body extended laterally at opposite sides of the pivot-bar e and formed with oneann extended above the turntable, to which arms the ladder-rails G are attached. An opposite or rear arm extends through the gap 9 beneath the turn-v line for rear of the said rails C, and the frame-bars C the counterweight are attached to such weight moves below the pivotal support when the laddermoves above said support, and without interference of the turntable in thereon.

By its S-shape, the frame C is enabled to sustain a counterweightnipon the side of the pivot-shaft e opposite the center of gravity of the combined main and extension-laddersyand permits all the necessary movements of the ladder from an elevated to a depressed position without the necessity opening or gatein the side or its supporting ring. The metal frame C is preferably formed with arms C bent downward from the junction no of the rails Cavith such frame, to form a foot for" a truss-bar C whichis trussed to the main rails C by diagonal braces C thus greatly increasing the strength and stiffness of the main ladder. The arm C gives the entire metal ladder-frame an S-form, as is apparent in Fig. 9, which. form is claimed herein.

The frame C is tipped to elevate or depress the ladders by connections to a handof the turntable wheel Z a shaft g extending ddwnward from the haml-wheel to gearing connected applied by the operator to the hand-wheel 1 which enables the operator to tip the ladders readily on account of their counterbalanced condition. A hand-wheel m is shown in Fig. 3 to rotate the turntable in the ring f .in the usual'manner.

.D, D and D together, and the. rail D is braced by truss-rods D The means for switching or guiding the car from the main to the extension-ladder in Figs. 11 to 15 inclusive, shoes or lugsz' being projected from the ends of the rails D into the groove 1;. The inner sides of the rails D are formed with grooves (l' corresponding to the grooves 0 in the rails C, but lying closer together, and, when the ladders are horizontal, at a higher level, as shown in Fig. 13. The outer rail D of the extension-ladder also has hooks d upon its lower edge adapted to engage the lower edge of the main ladder-rail G, which is especially strengthened-at its upper end by a grooved block is which the hooks engage when the extension-ladder is fully projected, as shown in Fig. 6. At such time, looking bolts (1 may be extended through the rails C, D and D, to form a rigid joint for the two ladders.

It will be understood that the upper end of the main ladder and the lower end of the extension-ladder are, in practice, sheathed in sheet-metal which gives such bolts a rigid fulcrum to hold the parts together. The means to elevate the extension-ladder are shown in Figs. 3 and 6, consisting of power-drums Z and Z of different sizes operated by any desired power. A bracket swivelcd into the bracket m, and a pulley n is journaled in the side of the tube so as to guide any rope which comes downward from Eh? turntable toward the hoisting-drums A group. of pulleys n (see' 8) are journaled upon the turntable close to the center of the ladder, and guide any rope from the hoisting-drums toward the under sides of the ladders. Figs. 6, 8 and 9 show the pulleys a adj acent the lower ends of the ladder-rails C where they join the frame C, and Fig. 6 shows a rope 0 extended over the pulleys and over. a pulley 'p to an eye q. The pulleyp is journaled upon the upper end of the main ladder, and the eye I is attached to a rung cl of the extension-ladder,

in Figs. 6, with pawls t fitted to ratchetteeth on the rolls. The rope 0 is connected with the eye 9 by a detachable link 1", and a rope 0 is extended from such link over one ofthe pulleys *n to the opposite side of the drum carrying the rope 0; so that the rotation of the said drum in opposite directionsmoves the car forward and backward upon the ladders, which is necessary if the ladders be nearly horizontal. When elevated, the car descends by-its own weight and needs merely the hoisting-rope 0', the pawls 23 thenengaging the ratchet in the rolls .9.

The construction of the car is fully shown in Figs. 11 and 12, with the rear end deeper than the front end and provided with a stepbar 8", by which anyone ascending the ladder can step into the car over its rear end. Partitions s are extended across the inside of the car at uniform distances, which can be used as steps when it is necessary to pass over the car in ascending the ladder. Such partitions are provided with holes 8" and s for the passage of hose, and perform a different function from mere rungs or steps, in forming compartments which serve to hold articles or persons in position when the car is in motion. The partitions thus serve several functions. Hand-rails t are'shown extended around the top of the car excepting at the front end, which afford a support to those who are riding in or passing over the car. Bearing-plates 8* upon the sides of the car, adjacent to the rolls 8, carry guide-ribs s to fit the edges of the ladderrrails. The bearing-plates are on a line with the bottoms of the rolls to sustainthe car if needful. The guide-ribs fit upon the inner sides of the rails C, asshown in Fig. 14, where one of the rolls is omitted to expose the bearingplate and guide-rib, and the guide-ribs fit upon the outsides of the ladder-rails D, thus moving in a straight line upon the two ladders. A sufiicient clearance is provided between the rails O and D, to admit the guideribs a, and the rails C and l) are held with such interspace open where the car movesfrom one to the other, by a suitable adjustment of the shoes 11 in the grooves a of the rails C, as is shown in Figs. 12 and 1:"). The

lower edges of the car, as shown in Figs. 13

and 14., move between the rails, and latchbars a arefitted to guides u upon the botfor crowding the latch-bars inwardly when the car moves from the main ladder to the extension-ladder, in whatever position the extension-ladder may be located; such means being shown in Figs. 13 and 15, and consisting of trough-shaped metal channels al attached to the inner sides of the shoes'i and sloped not only inwardly as shown in Fig. 15, but upwardly as shown in Fig. 11, so as to carry the end of the sliding latch bar from the groove 0 to the groove d. The shoes are formed as part of a metal sheathing 0- attached to the lower ends of the rails D, as shown in Fig. 15, and thus carry the twister channels d to any position where the extension-ladder may be moved upon the main ladder.

Fig. 11 shows the forward bearing-rolls S upon the rescue-car resting upon the rails D, while the rear bearing-rolls s are restin u on the rail C the car havin ar-' tially moved from one ladder tothe other. Fig. 11' shows pockets or sockets w formed in the lower edge of the rails D, and detents w hinged by a shaft 4; upon the inner sides of the'rails G and provided with spring w to press them into the pockets. The detents thus operate automatically, as the extension-I ladder is raised, to hold bothof the rails D in their projected position, and a cord w is shown attached to one detent which may be extended to any required point, as upon the turntable,

bar at that end of the car may serve as such support. Fig. 1 shows the car thus suptween the side-bars of to release the detents when it is; desired to lower the extension-ladder. The

of an emergency ladder D porting the emergency ladder and operating, when the car is pushed upward, to project such ladder beyond the top of the extensionladder itself. The upper end of the emergcncy ladder is preferably provided, as shown -in Figs. 16 and 17, with a hinged and elastically-supported guide frame having sidebars E hinged upon one of the rungs E of the emergency ladder, and projected upward beyond the same. A spring is applied to the fulcrum of the frame to press it normally outward, that is, toward any wall over which the ladder is moving. A stop E" limits such outward movement to the degree shown in Fig. 17. Such frame is provided with a guide-wheel F and the arms of carriage are bowed outwardly adjacent to the guide-wheel so as to rest upon the wall of any building when the emergency ladder is pushed upwardly; the wheels acting to guide the frame over sills, lintels and other projections upon the front of a building, while the bowed arms of the frame serve to bridge across any window or other openings in a wall. The wheel F has a soft tire to cling to any surface. The spring E operates, when the frame rests upon or moves over the wall of a building, to hold the top of the emergency ladder away from such Twall, andto fpermit the hinged carriage to swing away om the wall sistance from the ladder, when jolted by passing over irregularities of its surface.

A yoke Q is shown hinged to turn bet-he frame and formed with a hook or gaif G to engage the top of a wall or fence or a window-sill H, as shown upon the wall I in Fig. 17. The hub of the yoke is shown formed with arms J and J to which cords k and are attached and are, in practice, extended to the bottom rung of theemergency ladder to which they are loosely secured. The pulling of the cord 70 serves to draw the yoke with the hook in between the side-bars of the frame, as shown in the dotted lines G in Fig. 17 thus enabling it to clear any objects over which the frame moves. The cords enable the operator to throw the yoke downward and to engage the hook G with any object upon which it can overlap, and then detach it therefrom.

The emergency ladder, as shown in Fig.

without any re- 11, is provided with lugs 03 near the foot ofits side-rails, by which lugs it can, if necessary, be supported upon the rungs of another ladder when removed from the rescuecar- Fig; 5 shows the underslung platform K having ears L adapted to hook upon one ofthe rungs D of the extension-ladder, and held in a horizontal position by chains L looped over another rung l) of the same ladder. 5

Fig. 7 shows upon a larger scale the rails D of the extensiondadder with the ears L hooked upon the rung D, and the chains L extended to staples L at the outer end of the platform. In Fig. 5 the platform is shown adjusted opposite a window-sill H upon the front of a building I, so that persons who could not reach the ladder from such window may readily walk across the undersling to the ladder, where the removal of a rung D would permit them to readily pass to its outer side. i p I Means for removing a rung is shown 1n FigslO, 10 and 10, in the bolts 72. which are extended through the rails D, D, and space-blocks D of the extension-ladder and formed with dovetailed heads h u on the inner sides of the rails D, to which t e ends of such detachable rungs are removably fitted. The detachable rung, the main body. a of which is made of wood, is shown with metallic sockets e upon its ends having dovetailed notches 6 adapted to fit the boltheads k To make such a rung unbreakable, a wire 6 is extended through the broadened bases of the notches at both ends of the rung and wound over and over longitudinally upon the body of the rung, as shown at e in Fig. 10, thus holding the metallic heads securely upon the rung and supporting the rung against any accidental breakage. Blocks or stops c -are shown in Fig. 1O at one side of the bolt-heads h ,.to supp ort the rungs when placed upon the bolt-heads, but any other means ma be used for that purpose. The detachab e rungs may also be made of solid inetal. Such detachable rungs may be provided upon either of the ladders at any desired point and greatly facilitate the use of the apparatus with the car.

The permanent rungs of the extensionladder should extend through both the inner and outer rails of the'same to properly unite them, and give such strength to the structure that detachable rungs may be used at various points without impairing1 the rigidity of the ladder. Telescoping c are projected from the outer or rear end of the metal plate C and are united by crossties'so as to form frames adapted to slide one within the other. Figs. 18 to 20 show these frames, and the special means provided for adjustingthem upon one another to vary the effect of the counterweight upon the ladders. The two largest channels G are attached rigidly and permanently to the ends of the S-shaped metal plates C, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9; channels O connect-- ed by ties c slide in the channels 0, which are connected by ties a, and channels C are connected together to slide in the channels 0, as shown in Figs. 18 to 20, to carry the counterweight and to support an operator who may adjust the telescoping parts upon one another at all annel-bars mates times in the operation of the ladders. A cross-bearin 1 is fitted between the channels C? at t leir forward ends, and a handwheel mounted upon an upright shaft 2 therein, carries a pinion 3. .A rack 4 is secured to the tie-bars c" of the channels 0 and the pinion meshes with such rack, as

"shown in Fig. 18, so that when the handwheel is turned the frame having channels C may slide in and out of the channels 0. One of the tie-bars c connects the lower flanges of the channels C (see Fig. 20) and carries a bearing for a shaft 5 and pinion. 6,

and a rack 7 meshing with such pinion is attached to the cross-tie 0 so that the pinion 6 may move the channels 0* in the channels G, A plate of preferably connects the upper edges of the channels C to support a firm seat for an operator within reach of the hand-wheel upon the shaft 2, a foot-rest 8 being projected-inward from each of the channels G adjacent to the pinion 2 to support the operator in turning the pinion. The counterweight C is shown upon such plate in Fig. 19; When the frame having the channel 0 is moved wholly into the channel-bars C it brings the hand-wheels near one another so that-the operator can reach the hand-wheel upon-the shaft 5, and thus move the frame C inward or outward as desired. r i I Fig. 3 shows only the channel-C which is bolted permanently to the pivot-frame C, the telescoping frames being wholly retracted when the truck carrying the ladders is in transportation, for the reason that the weight of the main-ladder is supported upon posts a and a at such time, and be-' cause the extension-ladder whose rails D show in Fig. 3, would be wholly retracted,

as shown in that figure, and thus partly counterbalance the weight of the main ladder.

Fig.9 shows the rails C of the main ladder inclined downwardly from a horizontal line, and .the proportions of the pivotframes- 0' may, if desired, be made as in Fig. 9 so that the main ladder maybe inclined below the horizontal-line in any desired degree so that the ladders may reach points otherwise inaccessible below the level of the turntable.

It will be understood that the ropes 0, 0 and 0 may be wound u on the drum so -as to extend therefrom to ust the desired distance to reach their points of attachment and operate the extension-ladder and the rescue-car as desired, such distance being determined by the position of the parts when the ropes are thus attached and the ropes being paid out 6r wound in, as

may be required, whenever adjustment of the ladders is changed.

Instead of using separate ropesto elevate the extension-ladder and actuate the gap for the heavily loaded turntable.

car, the same rope may be first used to raise the extension-ladder to the desired point and then detached from the eye 9 and extended over the pulley p to the hook 1- upon the car. The detachable link r permits of the convenient detachment and attachment of the rope in such cases.-

N claim is made herein to a truck having a turntable and supporting ring with openings in the side through which a ladder can be swung from a verticalto a horizontal position, as such a construction is shown and claimed in the application No. 728,722 filed October 28, 1912 by B. F. Carpenter and W. McMane. The present construction differs from that in the said application,-by the connection of the counterweight and the main ladder by an S-shaped metallic frame which sustains the counterweight opposite the center of gravity of the combined ladders, while it also enables the ladder to move from a vertical to a horizontal position without intersecting the edge of the turntable ring, and thus avoiding the formation of any gap in such ring. The continuous ring is obviously stronger and affords a better support than one having a In the said application, a rack-bar or pusher is shown extended from a pinion to the foot of the ladder for inclining and moving the same, and the rack-bar f is shown herein connected to the rear end of the S-frame C for the same purpose, but I have constructed the connection with an index-finger f upon the end of the cross-bar f (see Fig. 3) and connected the end of the rack-bar with the cross-bar by a loose slot and bolt connection shown at f in Figs. 21 and 22, to showthe operator upon the telescoping frames whether the counterweight overbalances or underbalances the weight of the ladder. If the counterweight underbalances the weight of the ladder the frames C will pull upon the rack-bar and thus slightly r0 fate the cross-bar f and turn the indexfinger to the left and elevate it above the top of the frame G, as shown in Fig. 3. If the counterweight over-balances the ladder, the frame C will push upon the rackbar and turn the cross-bar in the opposite direction, thus throwing the index forward and below the upper edge of the frame C. The index finger thus indicates clearly to the eye of the operator the direction in which the ladder and car are unbalanced, so that the operator can at once shift the counterweight to restore such balance. The index-finger has a knob upon its upper end which when elevated above the edge of the frame C shows the operator that the ladder is underbalanced, and that the counterweight should be moved outwardly, as indicated by the word Out on the frame G.

If the knob on the index-finger disappears beneath the edge of the frame C, it shows the operator that the ladder is overbalanced and that the counterweight should be moved inwardly, as indicated by the word In on the frame C. The ladder can be thus kept balanced so perfectly as to make the labor very slight in tipping it by the hand-wheel 1 which enables the operator to vary the position of the ladder and car with the utmost facility.

When it is desirable or necessar to 0 erate the car upon the extension-la der w en its lower rungs are below the sheaves a, as shown in Fig. 3, the link r upon the rope 0 is detached from the car and led between such rungs d of the extensiondadder as will permit it to pass in a direct line as nearly as possible to the pulley 7). Such condition exists when the front of the extension-ladder is retracted beyond the foot of the mainladder, as is indicated in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing.

Certain attachments may be made to the extension-ladder to diminish the friction when moving over the main ladder rails C,

:such attachments consisting of rolls inj ournaled one upon the foot of each of the rails D and extending beneath the lower edge of the rails O, and rolls is journaled between the rails D and D intermediate to the spacing-blocks D to bear upon the upper side of the rails C. Such rolls are especially useful near the lower end of the extension-ladder as the strain upon the bearing parts of the two ladders increases as the extensionladder is drawn upwardly.

Fig. 6 represents the foot of the extensionladder raised to the highest point upon the main ladder, and the rolls and the hooks d coiiperate together in holding the foot of the extension-ladder firmly to the top of the main ladder. In Fig. 4 where the rails D and D of the extension-ladder are shown, the blocks 1) are shown disposed between such rails in line with the rungs (i so that the rungs may be extended through the same, which greatly strengthens the connection. Such blocks may be applied to each alternate rung or at any distances apart that are found desirable, and the auxiliary bearing-rolls (i may be made upon the rungs intermediate to those which penetrate the blocks D The rolls in are shown only near the foot of the main ladder in Figs. 6 and 15, but may be applied to the extension-ladder at any point of its length.

From the above description it will be seen that each element of the structure contributes to the most comprehensive and efficient use of the car, and permits the tipping of the ladder, and its rotation with the turntable by manual agency which can operate with greater promptness and certainty than any operated by power, as the operator is able to see what is required, and to act accordingly; while mere mechanism has no such capacity. The operator standing. upon the turntable in control of the wheels Z and m is thus able to extend the ladder in any direction from a central point, and to elevate it to any position fromahorizontal to avertical position; thus controlling the propelling of the car to any point in a hemisphere above the center of the ladders movement.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention What is claimed herein is:

l. A rescue apparatus having a truck with a ladder pivoted thereon, a car movable on the ladder, means to propel and retract the car, means upon the truck for extending the ladder in any direction from a central point "and elevating it to any position from a horizontal to a vertical position, and means to balance the car and ladder in any position.

2. A rescue apparatus having a truck with a turntable thereon, a ladder pivoted upon the turntable with a car and means to propel and retract it upon the ladder, means for extending the ladder in any direction from the center of the turntable, and means for elevating it upon the truck to any position from a horizontal to a vertical position whereby the car may be propelled to any point in a hemisphere above the center of the turntable, and means to balance the car and ladder in any position.

A rescue apparatus having a truck, a ladder pivoted thereon, with a car and means to propel and retract it upon the ladder,

. means for extending the ladder in any direction from a central point upon the truck, means for elevating the ladder upon the truck to any position from a horizontal to a vertical position, and means adjustable by an operator for balancing the ladder and car 1n any adjustment thereof.

4. A rescue apparatus having a truck with a ladder pivoted thereon, a car having rolls to rest upon the rails of the ladder and means to engage the inner sides of the rails to hold the car thereon, means to elevate the ladder at any angle, means to propel and retract the car upon the ladder, and the interior of the car provided with partitions forming compartments therein to retain objects or persons in the car when the ladderis elevated.

5. A rescue apparatus having a truck with a ladder pivoted thereon, a car having rolls to rest upon the rails of the ladder and means to engage the inner sides of the rails to hold the car thereon, means to elevate the ladder at any angle, a metallic step-bar projected from the lower end of the car, partitions within the car forming compartments to retain artlcles or persons in place when Y the ladder is elevated and serving as steps whereby an operator may pass safely over the car in ascending the ladder, and handrails upon the sides of the car to assist such operator.

6. A rescue apparatus having a truck with ladder pivoted thereon, a car having rolls to rest uponthe rails of the ladder and means to engage the inner sides of the rails to hold the car thereon, partitions, forming compartments to hold objects or persons, disposed to serve'as steps for the passage of an operator, the front partition having holes to receive the foot of a ladder and the front end of the car having a support for such ladder, and an emergency ladder havin the feet of its rails provided with pins fitted loosely to the said holes, and the ralls resting upon the said support, and the ladder having a hinged guide-frame at the upper end dapted to move over any contiguous surace.

7. A rescue apparatus having a truck with ladder pivotedthereon, a car having rolls to rest upon the rails of the ladder and means to engage the inner sides of the rails to hold the car thereon, partitions, forming compartments to hold objects or persons, disposed to serve as steps for the passage of an operator, the front partition having holes to receive the foot of a ladder and the front end of the car having a sup ort for such ladder, and an emergency ladder having feet fittedto said holes and having a guide-frame with side-bars ivoted near its upper end, and the guide-frame havin a guide-wheel at its up er end with cushion tire thereon, and the side-bars bowed outwardly from the ladder adjacent such wheel, and a spring upon the ladder adapted to press the guideframe normally outward therefrom.

8. A rescue apparatus having a truck rovided with a turntable and a main-la der pivoted thereon, an extension ladder having rails fitted within the rails of themain-ladder with a clearance forming a small interspace, a car having rolls adapted to travel upon the rails of both the ladders, and having guide-ribs adapted to fit inside the rails of the main-ladder and to pass through such inter-space to fit outside the rails of theextension-ladder, and thus guide the car laterally upon both of the ladders.

9. A rescue apparatus having a truck rovided with a turntable and a main-la der pivoted thereon, an extension-ladder having rails fitted within the rails of the mainladder with a clearance forming-a small interspace, a car having rolls adapted to travel upon the rail of both the ladders, and having bearing-plates projected from the car over both rails and each plate provided intermediate its edges with a guide-rib adapted to fit and 'move in the said space outside the rails of-the extension-ladder and inside the rails of the main-ladder.

10. A rescue apparatus having a truck provided with a turntable and a main-ladder pivoted thereon, an extension-ladder having rails fitted within the rails of the main-ladder with a clearance forming a small interspace, a car having rolls adapted to travel upon the rails of both the ladders and having guide-ribs adapted to fit inside the rails of the main-ladder and outside the rails of the extension-ladder, all of the said rails having grooves upon their inner sides, and yielding latches upon the car adapted to engage the said grooves and retain the car 011 the ladders.

11. A rescue apparatus having a truck provided with a turntable and a main-ladder pivoted thereon, an extension-ladder having rails fitted within the rails of the mainladder with a clearance forming a small interspace, a car having rolls adapted to travel upon the rails of both the ladders'and having guide-ribs adapted to fit inside the rails of the main-ladder and outside the rails of the extension-ladder, all of the said rails having grooves upon their inner sides, the grooves upon the extension-ladder rails being sloped at the lower ends of such rails to coincide with the grooves in the main-ladder rails, and spring-latches upon the car adapted to engage the grooves in the main-ladder rails and to yield inwardly when moved into the grooves of the extensiondadder rails.

12. A rescue apparatus having a truck provided with a turntable and a main-ladder pivoted thereon, an extension-ladder having rails fitted within the rails of the mainladder with a clearance forming a small interspace, a car having rolls adapted to travel upon the railsof both the ladders and having guide-ribs adapted to fit inside the rails of the main-ladder and outside the rails of the extension-ladder, all of the said rails having grooves upon their inner sides, shoes upon the foot-of the extension-ladder rails fitted to the grooves in the main-ladder rails, twisted channels connecting the grooves in both ladders upon the inner sides of such shoes, and spring-latches upon thelcar adapt ed to engage the grooves in the main-ladder rails and to be guided by the channels into the grooves of the extension-ladder rails.

13. A rescue apparatus having a truck provided with a turntable having an opening in the center, pivot-bearings upon the turntable at the sides of the opening, an S-shaped frame having a body pivoted upon the said bearings, and a ladder having its foot attachedto one end, and the opposite end extended beyond the edge of the turn table, and-provided with a counterweight, a

car movable upon the ladder, means to pro- 'S-shaped frame having a body pivoted upon the said bearings, and a ladder having its foot attached to one end, and the opposite end' extended beyond the edge of the turntable and provided with a counterweight, a car movable upon the ladder, means to propel and retract the car upon the ladder, a pusher for tipping the ladder, an index actuated by the pusher indicating the direction in which the ladder and car are balanced, and means for adjusting the counterweight to restore such balance.

15. A rescue a paratus having a truck with turntable t ereon, a ladder pivoted upon the turntable, a car with means to raise and lower it upon the ladder, an underslung platform with means for supporting it detachably from the rungs of the ladder, and the ladder having detachable rungs to facilitate movement from the underslung platform to the outer side of the ladder and the car.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

, BENJAMIN F. CARPENTER.

Witnesses:

L. LEE, THOMAS S. CRANE. 

